Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 22: Highlighting the significance of road connectivity in transforming socio-economic profile of the people, the Minister for Roads & Buildings and Mechanical Engineering Abdul Majid Wani today directed the concerned authorities to identify the uncovered habitations and prepare DPRs for construction of road network to connect them with the urban zones.
The Minister was chairing a high level joint meeting of officers of Roads & Buildings, JK PCC, PMGSY which was convened to review the financial and physical status of various on-going projects in Kathua district.
Minister of State Cooperative, Planning and Development, Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma, legislators hailing from District Kathua, Durga Dass, Charanjit Singh and Subash Gupta were also present in the meeting.
The Minister took detailed review of status of projects and asked the executing agencies to accelerate the pace of construction on the under-execution projects ensuring their timely completion for the benefit of the locals. He laid stress on the agencies to ensure quality of work strictly as per the specifications laid down and making judicious use of funds.
Taking serious note of slow progress of some vital road projects in the district, the Minister directed the executing agencies to involve the respective Legislators for timely clearance of various bottlenecks. He also asked for taking-up the projects of much importance for upgradation for the convenience of the people.
Asking for issuing notice to the contractors for speeding-up the pace of works and complete them in stipulated time frame, the Minister also stressed for black-listing such contractors who have been adopting lukewarm attitude in executing the projects. He also asked for re-tendering the projects where the contractors have failed to accomplish the projects.
Seeking details of projects submitted for funding under Projectization, Mr. Wani directed for preparing DPRs of inter-state vital links with the neighboring states. He also directed for early repair and renovation of Dayala Chak- Shallan road in view of its greater importance. He said this road is lifeline of 4- Constituencies of Kathua district and alternative connectivity to Kashmir Valley as well.
The legislators highlighted the issues of their respective constituencies relating to roads and buildings sector and sought their redressal. They demanded up-gradation of existing roads and more funds for taking new projects.
The meeting was informed that earth and macadamization work on Nagri Parole- Palli road has been completed and black-topping on the road would be started soon. The work on 38 schemes involving Rs. 129 crore is going-on under NABARD in the district. As many as 27 projects have been completed out of 65 sanctioned projects under PMGSY, the meeting was informed.
Among others, Commissioner Secretary, Roads & Buildings, Tanvir Jehan, Chief Engineer, R&B Jammu, Chief Engineer, PMGSY Kashmir and Jammu Divisions, Managing Director JK PCC, representatives from BRO, NHAI, besides senior engineers of the departments attended the meeting.
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